Dave Filoni Reveals Ahsoka Was Almost in Attack of the Clones

Dave Filoni Reveals Ahsoka Almost Ended Up in Attack of the Clones

If you’re not watching The Clone Wars Season 7, the finale to the popular Star Wars cartoon series, you’re missing out. Mainly because Ahsoka Tano remains one of the best characters ever created for Star Wars, even if she has only appeared in animated form (for now). But did you know the character was almost included in Attack of the Clones?

RELATED: CS Interview: Ashley Eckstein Talks Voicing Ahsoka, the Clone Wars Ending, and Her Universe

“We called her Ashla in the beginning,” series show runner Dave Filoni explained in a recent Vanity Fair interview. “That was 2005, and that worked on several levels for me. I think it was the name given to one of the [young Jedis Yoda was training] in ‘Attack of the Clones.’ There was a little Togruta girl. We kicked around the idea that maybe that was Ahsoka but then we thought the age didn’t really work out for it to be the same character. She was too young in the film.”

Filoni then talked about how George Lucas originally pitched the character and caught everyone by surprise.

[George] said, ‘This is going to be Anakin Skywalker’s padawan because I want him to have a padawan. People don’t expect that and it will add a way to give him somebody to teach, and it creates a great dynamic between him and Obi-Wan and her.’ And at first it seems like, well that’s a far-out idea. Growing up, I never thought Anakin had a padawan. That’s why George is George.”

“He just perceives things and trusts his instincts and goes for it and ends up creating a character that now is beloved,” Filoni explained.

Thankfully, the upcoming season of The Mandalorian will see Ahsoka appear in live action form for the first time, though the character will be portrayed by Rosario Dawson and not Ashley Eckstein, who has voiced the character since The Clone Wars theatrical film in 2008.

Created by George Lucas, the show first aired in 2008 and became an entry point into Star Wars for an entire generation, following fan-favorites like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Padmé Amidala, while introducing major new characters like Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex. It became a multi-Emmy winner and is now regarded as essential Star Wars.

RELATED: The Mandalorian: Rosario Dawson Opens Up About Ahsoka Tano Rumors

Even though The Clone Wars will be having its epic conclusion this year, it appears it won’t be the end for the animated Star Wars universe as SWNN has also revealed that a sequel series to Rebels is currently in development to pick up the story of Ahsoka from the series finale and could premiere as early as this year.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is currently airing weekly on Disney+.